The left back recently completed a three-month loan spell at fellow second-tier side Bolton, but he joins Neil Warnock’s squad after having his contract mutually terminated at Villa Park.

His new boss was quick to express his delight at the new addition, claiming that the west Yorkshire outfit fought off the advances off West Ham in order to secure his signature.

"I'm absolutely delighted,” Neil Warnock told Leeds' official website. “Stephen has the experience I think we need in that position.

"He is a former international who, for whatever reason, has been allowed to leave Aston Villa. He's a player I've tried to sign a few times before and I'm pleased he turned down West Ham to come here."

Stephen Warnock was brought to Villa Park by Martin O’Neill after two years at Blackburn, but he was unable to break into the first team under new boss Paul Lambert and will now look for opportunities at promotion-chasing Leeds.